Syringe With Anti-Rotation For Luer Lock

ABSTRACT

A needle guard for a syringe including tabs and preferably springboards disposed on the needle guard configured to engage a luer lock to prevent rotation of the luer lock during needle exchange. The body of the needle guard preferably includes springboards which are in communication with tabs disposed on the shield when the shield is in a first, retracted position. Inward or radial depression of the tabs forces the springboards to contact the luer lock and prevent rotation of the luer lock. The needle guard further comprises a slot disposed near the proximal end of the shield which is configured to engage an end tab disposed near the distal end of the body. When the needle guard is activated, the shield slides to a second, extended position and the end tab enters into the slot to lock the shield in the extended position.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of application Ser. No. 10/977,209filed Oct. 29, 2004, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein byreference.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates generally to syringe systems which include apassive needle guard. More specifically, this invention relates tosyringe systems, including a passive needle guard, which also includeone or more tabs disposed on the passive needle guard configured toprevent rotation of the syringe during attachment or disengagement of aneedle into a lock such as a luer lock.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Many current syringe systems include a needle guard coupled with asyringe to reduce the chances of accidental needle sticks and tofacilitate safer disposal of the syringe. In general, the needle guardcomprises a body and a shield which surround the syringe. Some needleguards further comprise a spring which biases the shield to an extendedposition when the needle guard is activated. Current needle guardstypically inhibit the use of luer locks as connectors for needles to thesyringe. A luer lock comprises a threaded attachment connected to thedistal, administration end of the syringe. In order to attach a needleto the syringe, a user screws a luer needle having male threads into thefemale threads of the luer lock. The body and/or shield of currentneedle guards allow access to the luer lock attached to the syringe viaa distal opening, but do not typically allow a user to apply inward orradial pressure on the luer lock during needle exchange. Therefore, insyringe systems which have a needle guard attached, a luer lock may bedifficult to use. The needle guard prevents a user from stabilizing theluer lock to restrict rotation of the luer lock during a needleexchange. In current systems, the luer lock rotates in place makingneedle exchange difficult if not impossible.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is directed to a passive needle guard system foruse with a syringe having a luer lock. The present invention is alsodirected at needle guard systems comprising one or more pairs ofcooperating tabs or springboards which can be depressed to contact aluer lock to prevent rotation of the luer lock during needle exchangeand to methods of making and using such systems. The present inventionis further directed to a passive needle guard comprising a tab and slotsystem which locks the shield of the needle guard in the extendedposition after the passive needle guard has been activated.

Typically an attached needle guard prevents a user from having access tothe luer lock in order to grasp and prevent rotation of the luer lockduring needle exchange or insertion. The tab system of the presentinvention effectively prevents the rotation of the luer lock bycontacting tabs disposed on the needle guard with the luer lock duringneedle exchange. The tabs can then be released, the medicationadministered, and the needle guard can be activated to cover the needle.

The needle guard of the present invention comprises a body and a shield.The needle guard may further comprise a spring disposed between the bodyand the shield arranged to bias the shield to the extended position. Thebody includes a cylindrical opening configured to receive a syringe anda distal opening from which the needle of the syringe extends. The bodyfurther comprises a pair of springboards disposed on opposite sides ofthe distal end of the body.

The shield is slidably attached to the body and has a proximal anddistal end. Initially, the shield is held in a first retracted positionby cooperating catches disposed on the body and the shield. In thisfirst position, the needle of the syringe extends beyond the shield.During use of the syringe, the needle guard is activated and the shieldmoves distally to the second, extended position. In the second, extendedposition, the shield covers the needle of the syringe thereby preventingaccidental needle sticks. The distal end of the shield comprises two ormore opposing tabs. When the shield is in the first, retracted position,the tabs are configured to engage the springboards when radial or inwardpressure is applied to the tabs. Upon application of sufficient inwardpressure to the tabs, the springboards contact the luer lock andrestrict rotation of the luer lock.

The needle guard of the present invention further comprises a tab andslot system which locks the shield in the extended position after thepassive needle guard has been activated. The body comprises a pair ofopposing elongate fingers near the distal end of the body. The elongatefingers comprise an end tab disposed at the proximal end of the elongatefinger. The shield of the needle guard comprises two opposing slotsdisposed near the proximal end of the shield configured to receive theend tab of the body. When the needle guard is activated and the shieldtransitions to the extended position, each end tab on the body enters acooperating slot on the shield thereby locking the shield in theextended position.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows a syringe system of the present invention.

FIGS. 2-4 show a method of using the syringe system of the presentinvention.

FIG. 5 shows the needle guard of the present invention.

FIG. 6 shows a side view of the needle guard of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a top view of the needle guard of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is an exploded view of the distal region of a syringe system ofthe present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Turning to the drawings, FIG. 1 shows a preferred embodiment of asyringe 10 used in conjunction with the present invention. Preferably,the syringe 10 has a substantially smooth-walled cylindrical barrel 12,a distal end 14 or hub that is the administration end, and a proximalend 16 having a flange 18. The cylindrical barrel 12 typically ismanufactured from substantially clear glass. Alternatively, the barrel12 may be manufactured from plastic such as polypropylene, k-resin,polycarbonate, and the like. The proximal end 16 of the barrel 12 isconfigured to receive a stopper 20 and a plunger 24 as discussed furtherbelow.

The distal end of the cylindrical barrel 12 comprises a needle port 30.The needle port 30 is configured to removably couple a needle 32 (FIG.8). The needle port 30 may also be configured to receive a syringe cap36 prior to use of the syringe (FIG. 1). The needle port 30 may beconfigured to couple with several different sizes of needles 32 havingvarious diameters and lengths. The needles 32 may be connected to thesyringe by a luer connector, luer slip, luer, luer lock, or other needleholder as is known in the art. In a preferred embodiment, the needleport 30 comprises a luer slip or luer lock 40 (FIG. 8). The luer lock 40is configured to allow interchanging of the needle 32 so a user 90 mayuse the most appropriate needle 32 based on the needs of the patient(not shown). The luer lock 40 comprises a threaded region (not shown)configured to receive the threaded portion (not shown) of a luer needle42 (FIGS. 1 and 8).

A plunger 24 and a stopper 20 may be inserted into the cylindricalbarrel 12 at the proximal end 16 (FIG. 1). The stopper 20 is configuredto be slidably coupled into the cylindrical barrel 12 and movable from aproximal position to a distal position. The stopper 20 is preferablymade of pliable rubber, thermoplastic rubber, plastic, or similarmaterial. The stopper 20 comprises a distal end 21 and a proximal end22. The distal end 21 of the stopper 20 is configured to create a sealagainst the cylindrical barrel 12 of the syringe 10. The proximal end 22may include threaded layers (not shown). The threaded layers areconfigured to receive threaded portions (not shown) of a distal region26 of a stem 25 of the plunger 24. The plunger 24 comprises a stem 25and a radial element 28 or thumb pad. During operation, the user appliesa distal force on the radial element 28 to administer the medicationcontained in the syringe 10 to the patient.

In a preferred embodiment, the syringe 10 is mounted in a needle guard70 (FIG. 7). The needle guard 70 may be a passive needle guard systemsuch as that disclosed in copending U.S. patent application Ser. No.09/566,224, filed May 5, 2000, the disclosure of which is incorporatedherein by reference. The passive needle guard 70 generally comprises abody 72, a shield 74 and a spring 76. The body 72 of the passive needleguard 70 is configured for receiving and holding the syringe 10. Theshield 74 is slidably attached to the body 72. Both the body 72 and theshield 74 are generally molded from plastic, such as polypropylene,k-resin, polycarbonate, or the like. In a preferred embodiment, the body72 and the shield 74 are substantially clear to facilitate observationof the syringe 10 therein. Alternatively, the body 72 and the shield 74may be translucent or opaque, and may be colored, such as a latex color,a flesh tone, or a primary color.

The body 72 may comprise opposing side rails 80 defining two elongateopenings or windows (not shown) extending at least partially between aproximal end 83 and a distal end 84 of the body 72 (FIG. 7). Asubstantially rigid collar 85 is molded on the distal end 84 of the body72; the collar 85 preferably has a substantially annular shape. Thecollar 85 defines an opening for allowing a needle 32 on a syringe 10received in the opening to extend distally beyond the body 72. Thedistal region 89 of the body 72 comprises a pair of tabs or springboards86 disposed on the side rails 80 on opposite sides of the body 72 (FIG.8). The springboards 86 are configured to engage the luer lock 40 andprevent rotation of the luer lock 40 when depressed inwardly asdiscussed further below. The interior face 87 of the springboards 86 maycomprise grooves or other surface features (not shown) to facilitate theengagement with the luer lock 40 or may be substantially flat. Thedistal region 89 of the body 72 also comprises one or more protrusions88 designed to engage the proximal end 77 of the spring 76. In apreferred embodiment, the distal region 89 of the body 72 may comprise apair of distal detents or elongate fingers 122 disposed on oppositesides of the body 72 (FIG. 5). The elongate fingers 122 include end tabs124 configured to engage a proximal slot 105 disposed on the shield 74as discussed further below.

The shield 74 is a tubular member adapted to slidably fit on the body 72and has a proximal end 91 and a distal end 92 (FIG. 7). The shield 74may comprise opposing side rails 93 defining two elongate openings orwindows 94 extending at least partially between the proximal end 91 andthe distal end 92 of the shield 74. The proximal end 91 of the shield 74preferably includes two finger grips or protrusions 95 on opposite sidesof the shield 74. The finger grips 95 may facilitate controlling therate of movement of the needle guard 70 relative to the syringe 10.Alternatively, the shield 74 may include a single finger grip (notshown) that extends around the entire outer periphery or circumferenceof the proximal end 91 of the shield 74

One or more latch members 96 extend proximally from the proximal end 91of the shield 74. The latch members 96 may include a first catch 97 thatis configured to engage a second catch 98 on the proximal end 83 of thebody 72 of the needle guard 70 (FIGS. 5 and 6). Engagement between thefirst catch 97 and the second catch 98 retains the shield 74 in a first,retracted position. Preferably, the one or more latch members 96 areelongate fingers having a proximal tip 104 that is engageable by aradial element 28 of a plunger 24 as it is depressed to axially compressand deflect the one or more latch members 96 radially outwardly as isdiscussed further below. The shield 74 further comprises a collar 103molded on the distal end 92 of the shield 74 (FIG. 7). The collar 103defines an opening for allowing a needle 32 on a syringe 10 received inthe opening to extend distally beyond the shield 74 when the shield 74is in the first, retracted position (FIG. 8).

In a preferred embodiment, the proximal end 91 of the shield 74comprises a pair of proximal openings or slots 105 on opposite sides ofthe shield 74 (FIGS. 5 and 7). The proximal slots 105 are dimensioned toreceive the end tabs 124 disposed on the body 72. During administrationof the medication to a patient, the passive needle guard 70 transitionsfrom the first, retracted position to a second, extended position.Engagement between the proximal slot 105 and the end tab 124 “locks” theshield 74 in the extended position and prevents retraction of the shield74 after administration of the medication.

The shield 74 also comprises a pair of anti-rotation tabs 110 located onopposite sides of the shield 74 near the distal end 92 (FIGS. 1-8). Whenthe shield 74 is in the first, retracted position, the anti-rotationtabs 110 are in communication with the springboards 86 located on thebody 72 of the passive needle guard 70 (FIG. 8). Inward depression ofthe anti-rotation tabs 110 by a user during a needle exchange,insertion, or removal creates an inward force on the springboards 86.This inward force causes the springboards 86 to contact the luer lock40. When sufficient pressure is applied, contact between thespringboards 86 and the luer lock 40 restricts the rotation of the luerlock 40. This allows for the exchange, insertion, or removal of a needle32 using the luer lock 40. Without application of this force to preventrotation of the luer lock 40, the luer lock 40 would rotate therebypreventing a user from properly inserting and/or removing a needle 32.

The passive needle guard 70 also preferably includes a spring mechanism76 coupled to the body 72 and the shield 74 for biasing the shield 74towards the extended position (FIGS. 7-8). The spring mechanism 76 maybe a compression spring disposed between the body 72 and the shield 74,for example, disposed concentrically within the shield 74 adjacent toone end of the body 72 or within elongate passages defined by the shield74 and/or body 72. The shield 74 may be biased by the spring mechanism76 from the first, or retracted, position wherein the needle 32 of thesyringe 10 is exposed, towards the second, extended position wherein theshield 74 covers the needle 32. One or more latch members 96 extendproximally from the shield 74 and are engageable by a radial element 28of a plunger 24 (FIG. 1). The first catch 97 on the one or more latchmembers 96 and the second catch 98 on the body 72 of the needle guard 70act to retain the shield 74 in the first, retracted position (FIG. 6).As the plunger 24 is advanced distally within the syringe 10, the radialelement or thumb pad 28 of the plunger 24 may contact the one or morelatch members 96 and release the first catch 97 and the second catch 98whereupon the shield 74 may slide towards the second, extended position.The one or more latch members 96 may include a proximal tip 104configured for engaging the radial element 28 of the plunger 24 (FIG.8). Preferably, the needle guard 70 also comprises a pair of cooperatingslots 105 and end tabs 124 that retain the shield 74 in the second,extended position (FIGS. 5 and 7). As the shield 74 advances to theextended position, the cooperating end tabs 124 on the body 72 enterinto the slots or openings 105 disposed on the shield 74 thereby lockingthe shield 74 in the extended position. Therefore, once the shield 74has been triggered to advance to the extended position, the shield 74may be locked in a distal position thereby preventing reuse of theneedle 32, reducing the risk of accidental needle sticks, and/orfacilitating the disposal of the syringe 10.

In addition, the passive needle guard 70 may include a locking mechanismon the proximal end of the body, such as one or more locking detents 108on a finger grip thereof, for substantially securing the syringe 10 inthe slot 114 (FIGS. 1 and 7). The locking detents 108 are configured toreceive the flange 18 of the syringe 10. To assemble the syringe 10, thedistal end 14 of the syringe 10 may be inserted into the proximal end 83of the body 72 of the needle guard 70. The needle guard 70 may then bemoved proximally such that the proximal end 83 of the needle guard 70 iscoupled with the proximal end 16 of the syringe 10. The body 72 of theneedle guard 70 and the proximal end 16 of the syringe 10 may be securedby the one or more locking detents 108 attached to the proximal end 83of the body 72 of the needle guard 70. The locking detents 108 may havetapered proximal edges 109, allowing the syringe 10 to be directedfurther distally, the flange 18 moving the locking detents 108 aside andentering the slot 114 (FIG. 1). The locking detents 108 havesubstantially blunt distal edges 111 that prevent the syringe 10 frombeing removed proximally from the slot 114, thereby substantiallypermanently locking the syringe 10 into the body 72, and preventingaxial (i.e. proximal and/or distal) movement of the syringe 10 withinthe passive needle guard 70.

In operation, a syringe 10 mounted in a passive needle guard 70 isprovided and a syringe cap 36 is connected to a luer lock 40 (FIG. 1).The passive needle guard comprises a body 72 and a shield 74 and mayfurther comprise a spring mechanism 76. In order to remove the syringecap 36, a user 90 depresses anti-rotation tabs 110 disposed on theshield 74 of the needle guard 70. The anti-rotation tabs 110 are alignedwith springboards 86 disposed on the body 72 when the shield 74 is inthe a first, retracted position. Depression of the anti-rotation tabs110 forces the springboards 86 to contact the luer lock which preventsrotation of the luer lock 40. The user 90 then attaches a luer needle 42preferably covered with a luer sheath 44 to the luer lock 40 bymaintaining pressure on the anti-rotation tabs 110 and screwing the luerneedle 42 into the luer lock 40 (FIG. 2). Just prior to administrationof the medication, the user 90 removes the needle sheath 44 from theluer needle 42 (FIG. 3).

The user 90 then administers the medication to the selected patient bydepressing the plunger 24 distally (FIG. 4). Distal depression of theplunger 24 of the syringe 10 activates the passive needle guard 70. Oneor more latch members 96 of the shield 74 are forced laterally and afirst catch 97 and a second catch 98 separate. A spring mechanism 76then forces the shield 74 of the passive needle guard 70 to a second,extended position. In this extended position, the shield 74 covers theneedle 32 thereby preventing needle sticks and/or reuse of the syringe10. End tabs 124 disposed near the distal end 84 of the body 72 enterinto proximal slots 105 on the shield 74 to secure the shield 74 in theextended position.

While the invention is susceptible to various modifications andalternative forms, specific examples thereof have been shown in thedrawings and herein described in detail. It should be understood,however, that the invention is not to be limited to the particular formsor methods disclosed, but to the contrary, the intention is to cover allmodifications, equivalents, and alternatives falling within the spiritand scope of the appended claims.

1. A syringe system comprising a syringe barrel comprising a proximalend and a distal end, the proximal end configured to receive a plungerand a stopper; a luer lock disposed at the distal end of the syringebarrel; a needle guard coupled with the syringe barrel, wherein theneedle guard comprises a body being configured to receive the syringebarrel and a shield slidable between a retracted position for exposing aneedle extending from the distal end of the syringe and an extendedposition for substantially covering the needle; one or more springboardsdisposed on the body of the needle guard, the springboards being incommunication with the luer lock; and one or more anti-rotation tabsdisposed on the shield of the needle guard, the anti-rotation tabs beingin communication with the springboards when the shield is in theretracted position; wherein the springboards are configured tosubstantially prevent rotation of the luer lock when the anti-rotationtabs are depressed.
 2. The syringe system of claim 1 further comprisinga spring disposed between the body and the shield for biasing the shieldtowards the extended position.
 3. The syringe system of claim 1 whereinthe shield comprises one or more slots disposed on the proximal end ofthe shield and the body comprises one or more tabs disposed near adistal end, the tabs being configured to enter into the slots when theshield is in the extended position to substantially lock the shield inthe extended position.
 4. The syringe system of claim 3 wherein the tabsare disposed on the ends of elongate fingers.
 5. The syringe system ofclaim 1 further comprising a luer needle coupled with the luer lock. 6.A needle guard comprising a shield having a distal end and a proximalend, the distal end comprising one or more anti-rotation tabs; a bodyhaving a distal end and a proximal end, the distal end comprising one ormore springboards, the springboards being in communication with theanti-rotation tabs and being configured to engage a luer lock of asyringe to substantially prevent rotation of the luer lock.
 7. Theneedle guard of claim 6 further comprising a spring disposed between thebody and the shield for biasing the shield towards an extended position.8. A needle guard comprising a body having open proximal and distal endsand a cavity therein for receiving a syringe through an open proximalend; and a shield having proximal and distal ends, the shield beingslidably attached to the body and having one or more anti-rotation tabsto prevent rotation of a luer lock when inward pressure is applied tothe tabs.